| People with type 2 diabetes need to be aware of | | | | walking session. |
| the sensation of tingling or numbness and a type of | | | | Because feet are vulnerable, an estimated 15 per |
| burning pain in their limbs. These are symptoms of | | | | cent of people with diabetes will develop a serious |
| peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. | | | | foot problem at some time in their lives. |
| This can be caused by: | | | | Watch out for: |
| - high blood sugar levels | | | | Numbness, shooting pains, and a pins-and-needles |
| - by high levels of fats in your blood, or | | | | type of pain in your feet... these are signs of nerve |
| - by lack of oxygen and nutrients When blood | | | | damage, or neuropathy. If this is the case taking |
| vessels are damaged by sugar and fat, they have | | | | some of these steps will help you: |
| difficulty carrying oxygen and nutrients to your | | | | - change your shoes and socks several times during |
| nerves. | | | | the day... this will help you to make more visual |
| Neuropathy in your limbs, especially in your feet, can | | | | inspections. This also minimizes your chances of |
| have serious consequences. Naturally lack of feeling in | | | | getting blisters and infections... all shoes allow your |
| your feet, means you can't feel pain. Blisters or cuts | | | | feet to slide after three to four hours |
| then go unnoticed and become infected, and due to | | | | - uncross your legs |
| poor circulation your blood has difficulty bringing | | | | - don't wear tight elastic hose |
| healing antibodies and white blood cells to help heal | | | | - avoiding smoking will also help Your health care |
| the infection. Unfortunately, neuropathy is the leading | | | | practitioner may prescribe medications that will help |
| cause of lower limb amputations in diabetics. | | | | the red blood cells pass through clogged arteries. Not |
| You are more likely to to develop neuropathy if you | | | | all people with type 2 diabetes get small blood vessel |
| have poor control over your blood sugar or you have | | | | disease in their feet, but this is a common site for it |
| sustained high blood sugar levels. | | | | to appear. |
| Help Your Feet: | | | | Supplements: |
| One way of taking care of you feet is by walking... | | | | No supplement or therapy is going to cure your |
| this helps to improve poor blood circulation to your | | | | neuropathy, but even a little bit of relief can make a |
| feet. When walking is painful, it is time to rest until | | | | big difference. |
| the sensation passes, then get up and walk some | | | | Alpha-lipoic acid is the number one choice for treating |
| more. With habitual walking, diabetics can gradually | | | | neuropathy and in addition, gamma-linolenic acid, part |
| improve things to the point at which pain is minimized | | | | of a family of essential dietary fats, can also help |
| or gone. But your feet should be checked after each | | | | with diabetes-related nerve damage. |